When a tormented scientist is murdered by radiation poisoning, Detectives Goren and Eames discover that the victim was working with Dr. Manotti a famous physicist in a wheelchair, on the controversial "Theory of Everything" - an unproven design that would re-configure the definition of the universe. Even as the police duo suspects the brainiac's beautiful and controlling trophy wife, they are curious about an approaching international conference in Berlin that would require Manotti to explain his theory - which would ensure his scientific immortality.

Detective Goren matches wits and moves with a paranoid but murderous chess grandmaster after a newly engaged woman is found slain and tossed in a garbage bin -- but Goren believes the killing might be a case of mistaken identity and finds links to a wealthy family and a pimp. Edging closer, Goren and Detective Eames study the passenger manifest on the victim's recent flight and they discover the curious zig-zag path of one disturbed man who is later discovered to be a famous chess prodigy-turned-fugitive now intent on blackmailing his family for money.